Cut-out device



Oct. 25, 1938. l H, J- LlNGAL ET AL 2,134,565

CUT-OUT DEVICE Filed sept. 23, 193.6 2 sheets-sheet 1 WITNEssEs: /l/ J xhNvENToRa @fry Inga! and WM #Wwf/f @wm @ff-W C 25, 1933 H. J. LINGAL. ET AL, 2,134,566

CUT-OUT DEVICE Filed sepi. 23,v 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR 5.

Patented Oct. `25, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CUT- OUT 'DEVICE Harry J. Lingal and Herbert J. '(lrabbs, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assgnors to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 23', 1936, Serial No. 102,084

. 14 Claims. (Cl. r200-121) This invention relates to cut-out devices or circuit openers and particularly to that form ofA device in which a fusible 'wire is contained within a fibre tube.

It is an object of this invention to remove the fuse tube bodily from the contacts by which it is connected into the circuit when the fuse wire has melted.

1t is a further object of this invention to inilo tiate the movement of the fuse tube by devices controlled by the severing of the fuse wire.

It is a further object of this invention to mount the fuse tube in a box and to mount an indicator on the outside of the Ibox, the position of the l indicator being changed upon the separation of the fuse wire.

It is a further object ci this invention to control the opening movement of the cover of the box by means of the fuse wire.

Other objects of the invention and details of the proposed structure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form K of the device taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line III- III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a modification of the upper end of the cover and indicator.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of the device taken on the line V--V of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken'on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VH of Fig. 5; and,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower mounting clasp shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, `the fuse is contained in a box I0 supported in any suitable manner, for example by means of a loop and `pin extending through a hole I 2. The box is of refractory or insulating material such as porcelain and has a cover I4 of molded insulating material secured thereon in any desirable manner, for example,

by means of a pintle I5 through one end of the cover, preferably the lower end, and cooperating orifices in the sides of the box. Near the top of the cover it is provided with upstanding ears I1 which afford bearings for a pin I9 around which a spring 2| is coiled. One end'of this .spring bears against the outer surface of the main part of the cover, as indicated at 23 and the other end bears against a surface on `the inner side of the indicator portion 25 of the cover, as illustrated at 21.

The indicator portion 25 of the cover is extended outwardly to form a projection 29 includ- 5 ing a hole 3l into which a switch hook may be inserted for the manipulation of the device. The indicator has an arched portion shown at 33 which leaves a space between it and the cover I4.

In the interior of the box is the fuse tube 36 10 mounted on the cover I4 of the box. Any desirable way of mounting the fuse tube may be used, but I prefer an insert 38 molded in the material of' the cover for holding the upper end of the fuse tube to the cover. The insert has threaded l5 holes into which screws 40 are inserted, under the heads of which a heart shaped cam plate 4I is secured. The lower end of the fuse tube is secured to the cover I4 b y being inserted in a hole 28 in a projection 30 on the'lower end of the 20 cover forming apart of the lower end wall of the box. 'Ihe lower end of the plate 4| is arched as shown at 43 and bears against a bearing block or terminal 45 mounted near the upper end of the tube. 25

The heart shaped portion of the cam plate 4I is at right angles to the portion having the arched end 43. This portion contains a slot 41 which cooperates with the end knob 49 on the cap 48 of the fuse tube. It also contains two shallow 30 notches 50 one on each edge which engage with springs 52 mounted in the refractory box.

These springs are integral with each other being connected at the bottom or back of the box by a cross piece 54. AThe cross piece 54 is ex- 35 tended upward and bent to form a contact spring 55 which bears against the contact knob 49 on .the fuse tube and is extended downward and` secured by a rivet 51 to a second cross piece 59 which also extends upward to form a spring 40 which reenforces the Aspring 55 in the action against the knob 40. At the point where they are riveted together, the cross pieces 54 and 59 are widened into springs 6I which extend forwardly and occupy recesses 63 in the side walls 45 of the refractory box to retain the parts in the box. At the lowermost part of the cross pieces 54 and 59, they are secured to terminals 61 by which the power lines are connected to the device. Holes 69 are provided in the side walls of 50 the box for the introduction of Such conductors. Near the lower end of the tube a second block 1I is mounted on the tube 36. A lower terminal 68 is mounted in the housing by means of springs 12 which are similar in construction and mounting to the springs Mounted in contact with these springs l2 is a curved contact spring which is riveted to the springs 12. in arm 'i5 extends -from the bloei; il on the fuse tube 36 toward the botto-m or rear ci' the Yoox. The arm 'i5 supports a pin 1d upon which is wound a spring 19. One end or this spring contacts with a rest BB which extends rearwardly from the bottom of the block li. The other end of the spring 19 contacts with an inwardly projecting rest 84 which is on one member of a U-shaped catch 85 pivoted on the pin 16. The cross piece 86 of the catch 85 is engaged by two hooks 89 which are mounted on the lower end of the indicator portion 25 of the cover.

The catch 85 projects through an opening 90 in the main part ci door I4. Upon the end of the catch 85, that is, upon the centrai part or the cross piece 86 is mounted a terminal screw 92 which carries a nut 93 by which the end of the fusible wire 94-is secured in place, and electrically connected in the circuit due to the electrical contact between the ends of the catch 85 and the contact spring 13. The fuse wire 94 extends around the lower edge of the mouth of the tube 36 and into the tube and is integral with the fusible portion in the interior of the tube. The other end of the fuse wire is electrically connected to the terminal block 45 by the cap 48.

In the operation of this form of the device, when the wire 94 is fused, it releases the catch 85 and the catch moves upward under the influence of the spring 19 disengaging the hooks 89. This permits the indicator 25 o'n the cover I4 to move outwardly under the influence ofthe spring 2|. In so moving, the hooks 89 draw the wire 94 away from where it is fused in the tube 36 thus lengthening and nally extinguishing the arc. The motion causes thecam surface 96 on the upper end of the indicator to come against the edge of the top of the box. This forces the upper end of the cover outwardly and pulls the plate 4| out of engagement, so that the springs 52 no longer engage the notches 50.

The whole cover is then free to move about the pivot I5 and carries the tube 36 with it, breaking contact between the contact springs 55 and 60 and the knobf4| and also between the contact .spring 13A and the Contact portion of arm 85.

r`long distance between these contacts and the terminals 4| and92 on the fuse tube.

When the cover I4 is in open position the tube 36 on the inside of the cover is easily accessible and can be removed. To remove the tube 36 from the'cover I4, the end of the tube having the plate 4| is iirst moved parallel to the cover I4, knob 49 passing out through the slot 41. When the plate 4| is free of the end of the tube 36, the tube can be drawn lengthwise out of the hole 28. A new tube with an unfused wire, or the old tube with a new fuse wire inserted through cap 48 can then be put in place. The lower end of the wire is fastened under the head 93 before the tube is replaced on the door. To replace the tube 36 on the door, the indicator portion 25 is moved into position against the main part I4 of the door and the end of the tube is moved longitudinally into opening 28 and the hooks 89 are engaged by catch 85 to hold the indicator against its spring. The upper end of the tube is then moved laterally into engagement with slot 41. A

If desired, the upwardly projecting cam portion 96 on the upper end of the indicator 25 may be omitted as shown in Fig. 4, and the indicator then will move outward when the wire 94 separates, but will not cause the plate 4I to be disengaged from the springs 52 so'that the cover I4 will remain closed and the tube 36 will remain in place. When this modification of the device is used, the indicator 25 oy its conspicuous position after the wire 94 has separated will call attention to the fact that the fuse has broken the circuit.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the parts having similar numbers to those already mentioned have the same functions and need not be described in particular. The fuse wire 94 in this form of the device is fastened at its lower end to screw 92 on the block 1I, and engages a hook which holds the indicator |02 in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. Electrical Contact with the lower block or terminal 1| is made by contact springs |03 which are supplemented by springs |04. These are secured by rivets 51 in a way similarto the springs in Fig. l, but the block 1| instead of having a rearwardly extending arm, as shown in Fig. 3, has its rear corners beveled as shown at |05 in Fig. 7, and similar corners |05 in the upper block 45 which forms the other terminal contact with similar springs ID3-|04 there.

The indicator |02 is mounted on a pivot |06 in the cover. 'I'he indicator |02 has a tail extending above the shaft |06 and carrying a press bar |01. Two springs |08 are mounted in recesses |09 in the cover and bear against the press bar I01.` In addition to the tail in which the press bar |01 is mounted, the indicator |02 also contains a rearwardly extending hook ||0 which engages a latch spring I I2, which is mounted as a part of a combination of springs similar to that shown in Fig. 8, near the top of the fuse tube 36. A cover I4 is pivoted at the bottom as shown at I5 as in Fig. 5, but the cover and not the indicator contains the projection 29 with the hole 3| for the switch stick.

In the operation of this form of the device, when the wire 94 separates, it releases the hook IDI which permits the indicator |02 to move outward and releases the hook I|0 from the latch spring H2.

The tube 36 is pressed outwardly by the springs I 03 and |04 acting upon the beveled corners |05 of the lower block 1| This will press the tube and the door outwardly enough to release the notches 50 in plate 4| from the springs 52 and the door is then free to rotate and can move about the pivot I5 its full 180 to a pendant position. The indicator |02 during its motion away from the cover I4 drew the wire 94 out of the tube 36 breaking the arc if not already extinguished and leaving the tube free to be removed from the cover as in the other modification.

When it is ready to be returned, it can be closed by a switch hook in the hole 3|. The hook ||0 will then engage the spring 2 and hold the cover in position. To insert a new fuse link 94, the tube 36 is removed from the door, the cap 46 is removed and a new fuse link 94 is threaded through the tube, theupper end of the link is secured under cap 48, and the lower end is secured under nut 92. The tube 36 is then replaced on the door and the Wire 94 is placed in retaining position under the hook |0I.

If the springs 52 are formed to iirmly engage the notches 50, the indicator l02 may move outwardly without the cover M departing from the illustrated position. The indicator M2 can then serve to show lthe attendant that the fuse has blown withoutinvolving the fall of the cover ifi to the pendant position. If it is desired to avoid `this result, the springs 52 may be slightly bent or removed so that no opposition to the outward movement of the door is present when the spring M2 is once disengaged. The same result may be obtained by omitting the end of the plate d3 carrying the notches titl.

Many variations in the details of this device will occur to those skilled in the art. The specific description and illustration of certain details is, therefore, not to be vregarded as a limitation. The only intentional limitations are those set forth in the claims.

'We claim as our invention:

l. In a circuit opener, a casing, a closure for the casing, a ruse tube within said casing secured to the closure, an indicator mounted to move separately from the closure and spring biased to conspicuous position, the fuse tube including a fusible element having a part extending outside the tube, holding means biased to inoperative po-l sition and restrained by the outside portion of said element for normally holding the indicator in inconspicuous position, said indicator being moved to' conspicuous position upon release of said holding means by said `fusible element, resilient means for starting the closure toward open position, and restraining means controlled by holding theindicator in said inconspicuous pou sition, preventing said resilient means from afecting the door.

2. in a icircuit opener, a casing, a closure for the casing, aiuse tube within said casing secured to the closure, an indicator mounted to move separately from the closure and spring biased 'to conspicuous position, the fuse tube including a flexible, fusible element having a part extending outside the tube, holding means biased to inoperative position and restrained by the outside por tion of said element for normally holding the indicator in inconspicuous position, said indicator being moved to conspicuous position upon release oi said holding means by said fusible element, resilient means -for starting the closure toward open position, restraining means controlled by holding the indicator in said inconspicuous posie tion preventing said resilient means from affect ing the door, andrneans readily rendered inet iective which While effective permanently pre vents said resilient means from acting on the door.

3. in a circuit opener, a casing, a closure there lior movable to open and closed positions, a fuse tube havinga fusible element therein carried by said closure, an indicator, means biasing said indicator from an inconspicuous position to a conspicuous position, said fusible element normally holding said indicator in inconspicuous position against the action of, said biasing means, and means controlled by the position of said in dicatorfor moving the closure to open position. ll. *in a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door for said housing movable to open and closed pos itions,` a fuse tube' mounted on the interior of said door and movable therewith, a fusible element within said fuse tube, a pair of spaced contacts within said housing adapted to be bridged by said fuse tube when said door is in the closed position, at least one of said contacts normally element, means on said indicator engaging said fusible element for holding said indicator in position against said closure, and means restrained by said fusible element for moving said indicator into a position standing out from said closure upon fusion of said fusible element.

6. In a circuit opener, a container, a closure therefor movable to open and closed positions, an indicator on said closure, a'iusible element, latching means for 'holding said indicator in position against said closure, means biasing said latching means to the released position, said latching means being held in the latching position against the action of said biasing means by said fusible element, means restrained by said latching means for moving said indicator'intoa posi-a tion standing out from said closure, and means controlled by said indicator for holding said closure in closed position.

7. ijn a circuit opener, a container' of refractory insulation and bon-like form, a closure forming the cover of the box biased to open position, a ruse tube mounted on the interior of said closure, said ruse tube having a fusible element, a catch within said container, a latching member pivotally mounted on said closure adapted to engage said catch for holding said closure in closed position, said fusible element normally holding fuse tube mounted on the interior of said. clostue,`

the mounting including a restraining device readily rendered inoperative, which when operative prevents movement of the closure to open position, said fuse tube having a fusible element, latch means biased to inoperative position and held by said fusible element in latching position to secure said closure in shut position and to release said closure when said fusible element is fused, said latch means including an indicator biased to an indicating position,`1neans near each end of the fuse tube for establishing connections thereto,

said connections including the fusible element, 7

whereby on fusing or said element the closure will be released and the fuse tube removed from said connecting means.

9. in a circuit opener, la box-like container, a closure therefor pivoted thereto near one end, an indicator pivoted on said closure remote from said end of the closure .and biased to a position upstanding from said closure, a fuse tube within the container, a fusible element Within said fuse tube, holding means carried by said indicator and engaged by said fusible element for keeping the indicator close to the closure, said holding means being released upon fusion of said li'usibie element to permit movement of said indicator to said upstanding positi 1, and means controlled by sa indicator for initiating an opening movement said closure.

1C'. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door ior said housing movable to open and closed positions, a fuse tube mounted on the interior of sai/:l door and movable therewith, a fusible element within sain fuse tube, a pair of spaced contacts within said housing adapted to be bridged by said. fuse tube when said door is in the closed position, at least one of said contacts biasing said tube and door to the open position, an indicator pivotaily mounted on said door having a latch member thereon, a catch supported within said housing adapted to be engaged by said latch member for holding said door in the closed position, said ble element normally holding said indicator in the latched position and biasing means for moving said indicator to an indicating position upon fusion of said fusible element to thereby release said latch member from said catch and cause said one contact to initiate the opening movement of said door.

ll. In a circuit interrupter, a housing, a door for said housing movable to open and closed positions, a fuse tube mounted on the interior or" said door and movable therewith, a fusible element within said fuse tube, a pair oi spaced contacts within said housing adapted to be bridged by said fuse tube when said door is in the closed position, an indicator pivotally mounted on said door, means biasing said indicator to an indicating position, a pivotally mounted latch member movable with said door and fuse tube operable when in the latching position for holding said indicator against movement by said biasing means, means including said fusible element for holding said latching member in the latching position, and biasing means for moving said latching member to the unlatched position upon fusion of said element for causing said indicator to be moved to the in-` E@ indicator pivotally mounted on said door, means biasing said indicator to an indicating position, votallv mounted latch member movable with door and fuse tube operable when in the position for holding said indicator agai ist movement by said biasing means, means inciuding said fusible element for holding said latohing member in the latching position, and biasing means for moving said latch member to the unlatched position upon fusion of said elecaus v said indicator to be moved to the indicating position., said latch member Witha portion of the fusible element from saic use tube upon movement to the indicating position by sa A. last named biasing means.

i3. in a circi t interrupter, a housing, a door` for said housiigy movable to open and closed positions, a fuse tube mounted on the interior of said door, a fusible element Within said fuse tube, a pivotaliy mounted member carried by said fuse tube to which one end of said fuse element is secured, means biasing said member to place said iuse element under tension, an indicator pivotalltT mounted on said door and spring biased to an indicating position, and latching means including said pivotally mounted member for holding said indicator against movement toward its indicating position when said' fusible element is normally under tension, said pivotally mounted member releasing said indicator upon iusion of said fusible element and causing a rapid separation of the fused ends of said fusible element.

le. In a circuit interruptor, a housing, a door for said housing movable to open and closed positions, a fuse tube mounted on the interior of said door, a fusible element Within said fuse tube having a portion thereof extending exteriorly of said tube, an indicator pivotally mounted on said door, means biasing said indicator to an indicating position, and holding means carried by said indicator normally engaging said exterior portion of said fusible element for holding said indicator against movement by said biasing means, said biasing meansmovng said indicator to the indicating position upon fusion of said fusible element to cause said holding means to withdraw the lower portion of the fused fusible element from said tube.

H. J. LINGAL. IERBERT J. CRABBS. 

